Compartmented package



p 26, 1957 E. J. POITRAS 3,343,664

COMPAR'I'MENTED PACKAGE Filed 2 153, 31, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 544mm J P022745 90 6'. W

p 1957 E. J. POITRAS 3,343,664

COMPARTMENTED PACKAGE Filed May 31, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 3 L1 1 I f I fig. 6.

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United States Patent O 3,343,664 COMPARTMENTED PACKAGE Edward J. Poitras, 198 Highland St.,

Holliston, Mass. 01746 Filed May 31, 1966, Ser. No. 554,044 Claims. (Cl. 20647) This invention relates generally to material packages and, more particularly, to material packages having a plurality of isolated compartments.

There exist many circumstances wherein one desires to condition a fluid substance by adding thereto a suitable conditioning medium. Frequently, it is desirable that the addition of conditioning medium occur at a substantially constant, known rate. A typical example of the latter is the common practice of dispersing insecticides or other pesticides into a fluid medium such as air or water. Since an excessive concentration of the pesticide will normally produce toxicity for others than the intended victims and a deficient concentration will fail to achieve the desired result, it is highly important that the rate at which the pesticide is added be both known and substantially constant.

A number of dispenser devices have been developed in attempts to attain the above objective, However, all of the known dispensers of this type have suffered from certain disadvantages such as high cost, unreliability, operational difiiculties, etc. US. Patent Number 3,169,705 shows and describes such a dispensing device which, while somewhat of an improvement over prior devices, still exhibits a number of significant deficiencies. This device utilizes a plastic container having walls through which a contained insecticide e.g. DDVP (dimethyldichlorovinyl phosphate), will diffuse into the surrounding environment. With a device of this kind, the primary problems are encountered in attempting to eliminate personal contact with the insecticide during handling of the dispenser, preventing diffusion of the insecticide into the surrounding environment prior to the period of intended use, and insuring a known and substantially constant rate of insecticide diifusion during use of the dispenser. While the above noted patent illustrates several dispenser embodiments which are intended to meet these requirements, all such devices have proven less than completely satisfactory.

The primary objective of this invention, therefore, is to provide for fluid conditioning media an improved and relatively low cost dispenser which will reliably furnish a known and substantially constant medium dispensing rate and which can be easily activated without danger of personal contact with the concentrated medium.

A primary feature of this invention is the provision of a compartmented package dispenser having a sealed airfree and impervious storage container filled with a fluid conditioning medium and adapted to be opened and emptied without exposure of the conditioner into a sealed air-free dispensing container having flexible and collapsible wall portions through which the conditioner is diffusible. The impervious storage container isolates the conditioner within the charged dispenser prior to a period of intended use and permits activation of the dispenser by emptying of the conditioner into the dispensing container without danger of personal contact with the conditioning medium. After activation, the absence of air in either the storage container or dispensing container allows the external environmental pressure to maintain the inner volume of the dispensing container equal to the enclosed volume of non-diffused conditioning medium thereby assuring contact thereof with the entire inner surface of the dispensing container. This complete surface contact establishes a desirable known and substantially constant 3,343,664 Patented Sept. 26, 1967 ice diffusion rate of conditioning medium through the pervious walls of the dispenser container.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a compartmented package dispenser of the above featured type in which prior to opening and emptying of the storage container, the sealed dispensing container encloses no free volume, i.e. no volume not also enclosed by the storage container. This further insures that after emptying of the storage container the entire inner surface of the dispensing container will be in contact with the conditioning medium.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a compartmented package dispenser of the above featured types wherein the fluid conditioning medium comprises a liquid pesticide and the dispensing container comprises Wall portions of transparent polyvinyl chloride.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a compartmented package dispenser of the above featured types wherein the storage container possesses a seal portion which is adapted to be easily opened and is enclosed by the dispensing container thereby facilitating emptying of the conditioning medium thereinto without exposure to the surrounding environment.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a compartmented package dispenser of the above featured types in which the sealed storage container is completely enclosed by the sealed dispensing container. This arrangement permits the manufacture of a relatively low cost dispenser by greatly simplifying production requirements.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a compartmented package dispenser of the above featured types in which the sealed dispensing container contains an activating ingredient adapted for mixing with the conditioner medium upon opening of the storage container. In this embodiment, the material for the pervious wall portions of the dispensing container is selected to be impervious to the activating ingredient per se but pervious to the mixture of the activating ingredient and the conditioning medium.

Another primary feature of this invention is the provision of an improved compartmented package adapted to permit emptying of one sealed container into a second sealed container without exposure of the emptied contents to the surrounding environment. The improvement utilizes a storage container having relatively non-elastic, easily tearable walls which are at least partially enclosed by a receiving container having walls of substantially greater elasticity. This arrangement permits one to grip portions of the storage container through the walls of the receiving container and pull in opposing directions thereby stretching the elastic receiving container and tearing the non-elastic storage container Walls.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a compartmented package of the above featured type wherein the storage container possesses a seal portion which is adapted to be easily opened and is enclosed by the receiving container thereby facilitating emptying of the storage container content with exposure thereof to the surrounding environment.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a relatively low cost compartmented package of the above featured type wherein the storage container is completely enclosed by the receiving container.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a compartmented package of the above featured types including a plurality of individual storage containers adapted to be opened and emptied into a common receiving container thereby permitting selective mixing therein of the materials contained within the individual storage containers,

These and other features and objects of the present invention will become more obvious upon a perusal of the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a preferred compartmented package embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view similar to that shown in FIG. 2 but after activation of the compartmented package;

' FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating the manner in which the compartmented package shown in FIG. 1 is activated;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a modified compartmented package embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of yet another compartmented package embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 7- 7 in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a plan view of still another compartmented package embodiment having plural storage compart-, ments.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 there is shown the compartmented package 11 including the sealed dispensing container 12 and enclosed storage container 13 which is filled with the conditioning medium 14. Both the dispensing container 12 and the storage container 13 are preferably formed by transparent plastic sheets juxtaposed along their flat surfaces and sealed along their common peripheral borders 15 and 16, respectively. One end of the dispensing container 12 terminates in a triangular section 17 having at its apex a pair of apertures 18 joined by a slot 19. The opposite end of the dispensing container 12 terminates with a pair of triangular ear portions 21 which unite forming the notch 22. As shown, the storage container 13 also has terminal triangular ear portions 23 which are accommodated within the dispensing container ear portions 21. A slight cut 24 exists in the outer edge of the storage container sealed border 16 directly adjacent the notch 22.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the compartmented package 11 is manufactured for use as a dispenser of insecticide. During manufacture, the storage container 13 is, for example, dielectrically or heat-sealed along three edges and charged with the conditioner 14 in a manner to exclude all air before sealing of the fourth edge thereby forming an air-free container. The filled storage container 13 is then positioned within the dis pensing container 12 which is similarly sealed to form a second air-free container. During sealing of the dispensing container 12 a suitable soft, resilient press device is preferably used to compress the inner surfaces of the dispensing container 12 into intimate contact with each other and with the outer surfaces of the storage container 13, as shown in FIG. 3. In this way, the dispensing container 12 is made air-free and to enclose no free volume i.e., no volume which is not also enclosed by the storage container 13. For this embodiment, a material is selected for the storage container 13 which is impervious to the fluid insecticide 14 while, for the dispensing container 12, there is selected a material through which the fluid 14 will diffuse. Additionally, container wall characteristics are obtained by, for example, choice of either materials or material thicknesses, such that the walls of the dispensing container 12 are substantially more elastic than those of the storage container 13 which is relatively nonelastic and. easily tearable.

Thus, prior to activation of the dispenser package 11, the fluid conditioning medium 14 is completely isolated from the surrounding environment by the impervious walls of the storage container 13. In this condition, the package 11 can be safely stored, transported, physically handled, etc. Subsequently, at the time of desired use one merely grips the enclosed ear portions 23 through the walls of the dispensing container 12 and pulls in opposite directions, as shown in FIG. 4. Because of the differing elasticity, the walls of the dispensing container 12 will merely stretch in response to the applied force while the walls of the storage container 13 will tear through the seal 16 at the cut portion 24 thereby opening the storage container. It will be obvious that the notch 22 in the periphery of the dispensing container 12 and the adjacent cut 24 in the periphery of the storage container 13 greatly facilitate this tearing operation. After opening, the storage container 13 is emptied into the dispenser 12 by, for example, on the outer surface of the storage container 13 exerting a pressure which moves in a direction toward the opening which was produced at the cut 24. In this way the entire fluid content 14 is easily transferred into the dispensing container 13. The activated dispenser package 11 can then be secured in a desired position by passing the slot 19 over the end of a suitable support (not shown) and the fluid insecticide 14 will difiuse through the pervious walls of the dispenser 12 and be evaporated from the outer surface thereof.

Because the entire package 11 is air-free, the emptied conditioner fluid 14 will completely fill the dispensing container 13 so as to be in contact with the entire inner surface thereof. This is of substantial importance because the rate at which the fluid will diffuse through the walls of the pervious dispensing container walls is dependent upon the wall surface areain contact with the fluid. Thus, knowing the total inner surface area of the: dispensing container 13, one can accurately predict the diffusion rate of the fluid. Furthermore, during the entire. period of use, the external pressure applied by the surrounding environment will deform the collapsible dispensing container walls to maintain this complete wall surface-fluid contact and, accordingly, a substantially constant fluid diffusion rate. Suitable materials for use in this embodiment are, for example, DDVP as a liquid insecticide 14, PVC (polyvinyl chloride) for the dis penser container 12 and for the storage container 13 a laminate having a Mylar outer surface which is highly impervious and a polyethylene inner surface, which is easily sealed. Also, as described in the above noted U.S. patent, various diifusion characteristics can be obtained by suitable material selections. For example, the addition of plasticizers to the liquid insecticide can be helpful in insuring a constant diffusion rate over longer periods of time.

While the above is a preferred application for the present invention it will be recognized that the novel com partmented package 11 can be advantageously used in other applications in which one desires to disperse a par-- ticular conditioning medium into a. given environment. For example, the invention can be used for emitting into the atmosphere other substances such as air cleaners, air fresheners, perfumes, etc. or for conditioning water the package 11 can be used to add chemical purifiers, health aids such as fluorides, water softeners, chelating agents such as ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid, etc. The novel package 11 can also be used in applications wherein it is desirable to combine two or more substances. In this case, the dispensing container 12 could be filled duringmanufacture with an ingredient which will activate the content of the storage container 13 after opening thereof as described above. For example, the activating ingredient'can' be a dry substance which is not diifusable through the walls of the dispensing container 12 but which after mixture with a suitable liquid within the storage container 13 produces a combination substance which will diffuse through the walls of the dispensing container 12.

It should be noted further that the unique compartmented package 11 can have desirable applications other than as a conditioning medium dispenser. Thus, for example, the package canbe used for plural ingredients which are activated upon combination to produce a useful combination product as described, for example, in US. Patent Number 3,064,802 which issued on November 20, 1962. In a preferred embodiment of this type,.

either the storage container 13 or the receiving container 12 can be filled with a soap material and the other with a substance which will produce a foaming and exothermic reaction when mixed with the soap material. Such a device will provide within the receiving container 12, after opening of the storage container 13 as described above, a warm lat-her which can be used for shaving and the like.

In these latter applications it will be understood that the material used for the walls of the receiving container 12 need not be pervious to either its original content or the resultant mixture since the container can be opened for immediate use of the contents. However, the above noted difference in elasticity between the supply container 13 and the receiving container 12 is still important to facilitate opening of the storage container and emptying into the receiving container without exposure of the contents to the surrounding atmosphere.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown another embodiment of the invention in which parts similar to those in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 are given the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, the storage container 13 is not entirely enclosed within the dispensing or receiving container 12. Only that portion of the storage container 13 which is to be opened is sealed within the receiving container 12. Also, the manufacturing technique required for this embodiment is somewhat different in that a portion 31 of the receiving container exterior seal is made directly to the outer surface of the storage container 13. The component materials and use of this embodiment are similar to those described above. However, since the seal portion 31 is made directly to the exterior surface of the storage container 13 it may be desirable to use therefor a three layer laminate comprising a Mylar sheet straddled by sheets of easily sealed polyethylene. One grips the ear portions 32 of container 13 through the walls of the receiving container 12 and pulls in opposite directions to cause tearing and opening of the seal 16 at point 33.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show another embodiment in which the adjacent storage container 41 and dispensing or receiving container 42 are joined along a common peripheral seal region 43. As shown in FIG. 7, the seal region 43 is formed by a strip of material 44, such as aluminum, positioned between the wall edges 46 of the storage container 41. This end of the storage container 41 is overlapped and straddled by the dispenser container wall edges 45 which are sealed to the dispensing container edge walls 46.

During manufacture of this embodiment, the storage container 41 is charged, as above, with a suitable conditioning medium after application of the strip 44 by, for example, an aluminum coating process. The storage container 41 is then positioned between the dispensing container wall edges 45 which are then sealed, as in the embodiment of FIG. 1, so as to exclude all air and produce an intimate contact between the inner surface layers of the dispensing container 42. The tenacity of adhesion between the strip 44 and the storage container wall edges 46 can be made independent of the degree of heat applied during the sealing process. Thus, it is possible to provide a lesser degree of adhesion in this area than the existing tear strength of the walls themselves or of the seal between the wall edges 45 and 46. Accordingly, the application of a pulling force to the seal region 43 will break and open the seal between the strip 44 and the storage container wall edges 46 allowing the storage container contents to be emptied into the dispensing container 42. The component materials and applications of this embodiment are again similar to those described above except that the easily opened seal portion 43 provided by the strip 44 eliminates the above requirement for materials of diflering elasticity.

FIG. 8 shows a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. Here a plurality of storage containers 51 are enclosed within a single receiving container 52. This embodiment is useful for applications wherein it is desired to combine a plurality of ingredients for a given use. A typical example of such an application is where an epoxy resin must be isolated from a curing or activating agent prior to use and subsequently combined or mixed in accurate proportions and desirably without wasting or spilling. Thus, the receiving container 52 can be filled with an epoxy resin and the storage containers 51 filled with suitable activating agents. At a time of desired use the storage containers 51 can be opened, as described above, and emptied into the receiving container 52 without exposing the contents to the surrounding atmosphere. The combined contents can then be adequately mixed within the receiving container 52 by, for example, a kneading process. After mixing the contents can be emptied from the receiving container 52 which has been opened by, for example cutting along the line 53.

It is possible with this embodiment to provide selective mixing of materials. For example, the individual storage containers 51 can be of varying size, as shown, so as to contain diflering selected quantities of a given activating or coloring material. Thus, a user of the package can obtain a finished product having particular desired characteristics of hardness, strength, etc. by selecting one or more of the storage containers 52.

In a further useful application of the invention the receiving container 52 can include a suitable filler material 54 such as a cloth or woven fiberglass strip. After opening and emptying of one or more of the storage containers 51, the resultant mixture can be thoroughly kneaded within the receiving container 52 thereby impregnating the filler strip 54. Then, after opening of the receiving container 52 by, for example, cutting along the line 53 the impregnated filler strip 54 can be removed and utilized as desired.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A compartmented package for dispensing a fluid conditioning medium and comprising; a sealed substantially air-free storage container containing and impervious to the fluid conditioning medium, said storage container adapted for opening to permit emptying of said fluid conditioning medium, a sealed substantially air-free dispensing container having flexible and collapsible wall portions, said dispensing container adapted upon opening and emptying of said storage container to receive said fluid conditioning medium while preventing exposure thereof to the surrounding environment, and wherein said dispensing container comprises wall portions through which said fluid conditioning medium is diffusible.

2. A compartmented package according to claim 1 wherein prior to opening and emptying of said storage container, said sealed dispensing container encloses substantially no free volume.

3. A compartmented package according to claim 1 wherein said sealed storage container is completely enclosed by said sealed dispensing container.

4. A compartmented package according to claim 1 wherein said sealed dispensing container contains an activating ingredient adapted to be mixed with said fluid conditioning medium upon opening of said storage container, and said dispensing container is imprevious to said activating ingredient and pervious to a mixture of said activating ingredient and said fluid conditioning medium.

5. A compartmented package according to claim 1 wherein said sealed storage container includes a seal portion which is adapted to be easily opened and is enclosed by said dispensing container.

'6. A compartmented package according to claim 1 wherein said fluid conditioning medium comprises a liquid pesticide, said storage container is formed by a material impervious to said liquid pesticide, and said dispensing container is formed of a plastic material through which said liquid pesticide will diffuse.

7. A compartmented package according to claim 1 wherein said dispensing container comprises transparent walls.

8. A compartmented package according to claim 1 wherein said sealed storage container is at least partially enclosed by said sealed dispensing container, said storage container has relatively non-elastic easily tearable wall portions,- said dispensing container has wall portions of substantially greater elasticity than said relatively nonelastic easily tearable wall portions of said storage container, and said storage container includes gripping portions adapted to be gripped through the elastic wall portions of said dispensing container and pulled in opposing directions thereby stretching the elastic wall portions of said dispensing container and tearing and opening the relatively non-elastic wall portions of said storage container so as to permit emptying into said sealed dispensing container said fluid conditioning medium without exposure thereof to the surrounding environment.

9. A compartmented package according to claim 8 wherein prior to opening and emptying of said storage container, said sealed dispensing container encloses substantially no free volume.

10. A compartmented package according to claim 9 wherein said sealed storage container is completely enclosed by said sealed dispensing container.

11. A compartmented package according to claim 10 wherein said fluid conditioning medium comprises a liquid pesticide, said storage container is formed by a material impervious to said liquid pesticide, and said dispensing container is formed of a plastic material through which said liquid pesticide will difiuse.

12. A compartmented package according to claim 11 wherein said dispensing container comprises transparent walls.

13. A compartmented package according to claim 12 wherein said storage container includes between said gripping portions a notched wall portion adapted to facilitate tearing of said tearable storage container wall portions.

14. A compartmented package comprising; sealed storage container means containing a useful material, said storage container means having relatively non-elastic easily tearable wall portions, a sealed receiving container at least partially enclosing said storage container means, said receiving container having wall portions of substantially greater elasticity than said relatively non-elastic easily tearable wall portions of said storage container means, and whereinsaid storage container means includes gripping portions adapted to be gripped through the elastic wall portions of said receiving container means and pulled in opposing directions thereby stretching the elastic wall portions of said'receiving container means and tearing and opening the relatively non-elastic wall portions of said storage container means so as to permit emptying from said storage container means into said sealed receiving container of saiduseful material without exposure thereof to the surrounding environment.

15. A compartmented package according to claim 14 wherein said storage container is completely enclosed by said. receiving container.

16. A compartmented package according to claim 14 wherein said receiving container contains a mixing ingredi- 0 ent'adapted to be mixed with said useful material upon opening of said storage container. 7

17. A compartmented package according to claim 16 wherein said useful substance and said mixing ingredient comprise a soap material and substances adapted to produce foaming and heating of said soap material upon combination therewith.

18. A compartmented package according to claim 16 wherein said storage container is completely enclosed by said receiving container. 7

19. A compartmented package according to claim 14 wherein said storage container means includes between said gripping portions a notched wall portion adapted to facilitate tearing of said tearable storage container wall portions.

20. A compartmented package according to claim 19 wherein said storage container is completely enclosed by said receiving container.

21. A compartmented package according to claim 14 wherein said storage container means comprises a plurality of individual storage containers, each containing a useful material and adapted to be opened and emptied into said receiving container thereby permitting selective mixing therein of said useful materials.

22. A compartmented package according to claim 21 wherein each of said individual storage containers is completely enclosed by said receiving container.

23. A compartmented package comprising a sealed storage container containing a useful material, asealed receiving container containing a mixing ingredient, said storage container being adapted for opening to permit emptying of said useful material into said receiving container for mixing with said mixing ingredient without exposure thereof to the surrounding environment and wherein said useful substance and said mixing ingredient comprise a soap material and an activating agent adapted to produce foaming and heating of said soap material upon combination therewith.

24. A- compartmented package comprising; a sealed storage container means containing a useful material, a sealed receiving container at least partially enclosing said storage container means, said storage container having gripping portions formed by a notched wall portion there in and enclosed by said receiving container, said' gripping;

portions adapted to be gripped through the walls of saidreceiving container and pulled in opposing directions so as to tear open said storage container means and permit emptying of said useful material into said receiving container without exposure of said material to the surrounding environment.

25. A compartmented package according to claim 24 wherein said storage container means is completely enclosed by said receiving container.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,334,600 11/ 1943 Boysen "a 20647" 2,397,051 3/ 1946 Scherer 128272 2,552,870 5/ 1951 Scherer 128-272 X 2,714,974 8/ 1955 Sawyer 206'47 X 2,971,850 2/ 1961 Barton 206-47 X FOREIGN PATENTS 639,589 4/ 1962 Canada.

697,723 9/ 1953 Great Britain.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

I. M. CASKIE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A COMPARTMENTED PACKAGE FOR DISPENSING A FLUID CONDITIONING MEDIUM AND COMPRISING; A SEALED SUBSTANTIALLY AIR-FREE STORAGE CONTAINER CONTAINING AND IMPERVIOUS TO THE FLUID CONDITIONING MEDIUM, SAID STORAGE CONTAINER ADAPTED FOR OPENING TO PERMIT EMPTYING OF SAID FLUID CONDITIONING MEDIUM, A SEALED SUBSTANTIALLY AIR-FREE DISPENSING CONTAINER HAVING FLEXIBLE AND COLLAPSIBLE WALL PORTIONS, SAID DISPENSING CONTAINER ADAPTED UPON OPENING AND EMPTYING OF SAID STORAGE CONTAINER TO RECEIVE SAID FLUID CONDITIONING MEDIUM WHILE PREVENTING EXPLOSURE THEREOF TO THE SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT, AND WHEREIN SAID DISPERSING CONTAINER COMPRISES WALL PORTIONS THROUGH WHICH SAID FLUID CONDITIONING MEDIUM IS DIFFUSIBLE. 